Leather-stretching clamp.



No.7D7,869. Patented Aug. 26, I902.

J. SCHNEIDER.

LEATHER STRETCHING CLAMP.

(Application am: July 1, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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' UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN SCHNEIDER, OF NElVARK, NEYV JERSEY.

LEATHER-STRETCHING CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,869, dated August 26, 1902.

Application filed July 1, 1902. Serial No. 113,924. (No model.)

To all 2071,0722, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN SCHNEIDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leather-Stretching Grips; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The objects of this invention are to facilitate the stretching of leather upon frames, more particularly in the art of preparing patent or enamel leather, to reduce the injury and loss of the leather, and to-secure other advantages and results, some of which may be referred to hereinafter in connection with the description of the working parts.

The invention consists in the improved leather-stretching grip and in the arrangements and combinations of parts of the same, all substantially as will be hereinafter set forth and finally embraced in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures, Figure 1 is a plan showing my improved grip in connection with the leather and stretching-frame. Fig. 2 is a detail View showing the contiguous sides of the two gripping-jaws. Figs. 3 and 4: are sections taken on lines 'y and ,2, respectively. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the parts of Fig. 1, showing the relations more fully; and Fig. 6 is a section at line a; of Fig. 1.

In said drawings, aindicates a piece of leather, such as is commonly used in making patent or enameled leather. 1) indicates my improved grip holding one edge of the same firmly, but without material injury to said leather. 0 is a cord or connection of said grip extending to the frame, and d is a portion of said frame of any usual construction. The said grip comprises two jaws 1) (shown more clearly in Figs. 2, 3, and 4,) where b b are the shanks, perforated or slotted at 4 to receive the loop or knot c of the cord or connection c, and 5 5 are the gripping crossheads,integrally united to said shanks. The forward edges of the two cross-heads are turned one toward the other, as shown in Fig. (i, and are serrated or toothed, the teeth 6 being more or less sharp to indent and firmly hold the leather, but preferably without cutting or perforating the same. The teeth 6 press on opposite-sides of the leather and bend the latter sharply therebetween, so that said leather is held from slipping from between said teeth. At the center of the crosshead of the jaw 12, in line with the shank thereof, is formed an eye '7, adapted to receive the sharpened prong 8 of the grip-jaw b Said sharpened prong is adapted to perforate the leather and project through the eye 7. \Vhen in said eye, the row of the teeth 6 of the jaw lies at the inner side of the row of teeth of the other jaw. The back of the cross-head of the jaw b is bent up, as at 9 9,

at opposite sides of its shank, so that a longitudinal cavity is formed in the cross-head. The width of the cavity between the row of teeth and the rib 9 9 is somewhat greater than the width of the cross-head b and thus said cross-head b can be pressed into said cavity and yet permit'the bent leather to enter between the two rows of teeth. The top or projecting side of the eye 7 serves as a fulcrum and the prong S as the short arm of a lever.

In operating the device to clamp or clutch the leather the prong 8 of the jaw 12* is thrust through the leather three-eighths of an inch, more or less, from its edge, the cross-head of said jaw being placed to lie parallel with the edge and the teeth to engage the top surface of the leather. The jaw b is placed beneath the leather, the eye 7 thereof receiving the pointed prong and the cross-head lying parallel with the cross-head 0f the jaw 19 The two cross-heads are then pressed together at or toward their shanks and free longitudinal edges, and the leverage secured serves to bend the leather sharply over and againstthe rows of teeth. The back edge of the cross-head of the jaw b impinges against the ribs 9, which serve as keepers for holding the prong S-from withdrawal. Tension or draftis then brought upon the cord or connection a, the tension being produced in fastening said cord to tho frame, and such tension tends to draw the shanks together. Said shanks serve as the long arms of a lever, and thus great pressure of the teeth 6, lying close to the fulcrum, is brought upon the leather, as will be clearly understood, thus enabling the leather to be fastened with great security and strength and with little danger of injury to the leather because of the wide distribution of the strain.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. Theimproved grip for stretching leather, comprising two jaws having each a cross-head and shank, the shank being adapted to receive a cord or connection and the cross-head being provided with gripping teeth, and means for joining the two jaws at their-gripping edges, substantially as set forth.

2. The improved grip, comprising two gripping-jaws, one with an eye near its gripping edge and the other with a pointed prong at its gripping edge, substantially as set forth.

3. The improved grip, comprising two jaws having turned gripping edges provided with teeth, one of said jaws being provided with an eye in theline of the gripping-teeth thereof, and the other of said jaws having a prong to enter said eye, and means to hold said jaws together, under tension, substantially as set forth.

4. The improved grip, comprising a pair of separable jaws,each having a shank and crosshead, the latter being provided with gripping-teeth and one of said jaws being provided with an eye at the forward edge and a rib at its rearward edge, and the other of said jaws being provided with a prong to enter the said eye, and the cross-head thereof being adapted to enter between the said rib and the gripping-teeth of the said one jaw first mentioned, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of June, 1902.

JOHN SCHNEIDER.

Witnesses:

EDWIN ADAM, CHARLES H. PELL. 

